A Blog on fun things to do in Pune by MakeMyTrip.com- India's largest online travel portal. Visit http://www.makemytrip.com

1. Fun Things To Do In Pune
Pune, formerly called Poona, derives its name from Punya-Nagari, meaning the blessed city. Living under
the shadow of its glamorous cousin, Mumbai, Pune has thus far been to the denizens of Maharashtra what
Mysore is to Bangaloreans – a place to plan their retirement in. But having broken free of the shackles of this
odious comparison, Pune today is a city teeming with the best that any metropolis has to offer, while
retaining its old worldly charm.
Being the cultural capital of Maharashtra (take that, Mumbai!), and with the majority of the population
being Hindu, Pune is home to many temples, most notable among them being the Halwai Ganpati temple
and the Parvati temple on Parvati hill. For those interested in religious places with historic significance,
there is the temple of Dakshinamurthy, situated near the confluence of three rivers, Bhima, Indrayani and
Bhama. For those with a fascination for architecture, there’s the world famous Pataleshwar rock-cut temple
complex built in the 8th century, as also the Aga Khan Palace, Shaniwarwada and Lal Mahal. ISKCON also
has built a temple in Pune, the Shri Radha Kunjbihari temple.
If you’re more spiritually inclined but not religiously so, there is the world famous Osho Ashram, going by
the name of Osho International Meditation Resort, on the outskirts of the city. Founded by the late Bhagwan
Shree Rajneesh, fondly known as Osho, who preached “free love”, this ashram is one of the most popular
spiritual retreats of the world, attracting visitors from over a hundred countries.
Pune is the largest city in the Western Ghat region and is surrounded by beautiful mountain ranges, the
Sahyadris, which have been an inspiration to travelers and poets for centuries. Trekking and hiking the
Sahyadris have long held fascination for the adventurous and the romantics at heart. The Sinhagad fort,
located just outside the city, is one of the key tourist destinations. The north-western suburbs boast of a
manmade lake, the Pashan Lake.
Being the cultural hub of the state, Pune boasts of richness in terms of arts, craft, theatre, music, festivals and
the like. It is also home to FTII, India’s premier film institute, with the who’s who of the Indian film industry
being invited for guest lectures and interactive sessions with the students and the larger audience.
The Sawai Gandharva music festival held every year in December with Pandit Bhimsen Joshi at the helm of
affairs fetes the life and achievements of Pandit Sawai Gandharva and attracts classical music enthusiasts
from all over the country as well as the world. This is one of the most popular Indian classical music
festivals.
If you’re fond of public monuments, memorials and museums, be sure to check out the Pu La Deshpande
Garden, Babasaheb Ambedkar Museum and War Memorial Museum. An environment friendly city that
Pune is, it is also home to many gardens, most notable among them the Kamala Nehru Park and the Shahu
Udyan.
Matheran, a hill station about 2 hours away from Pune, is also a hugely popular tourist destination, known
for its hilly terrain, located about 800 meters above sea level and verdant lushness for miles and miles
around. Khandala, romanticized in the Aamir Khan- Rani Mukherjee song Aati kya Khandala, is another
popular hotspot for visitors to Pune and Mumbai, situated conveniently in between the two cities, easily
reachable on the Mumbai-Pune expressway. While in Khandala, or in Pune for that matter, don’t miss the
Lonavla chikki.
Coming to what one can eat here, Pune is a vegetarian’s delight offering some signature dishes that are
loved all over the country. For one, there’s the famous dabeli – the Indian burger that has at its core a mix of
spicy mashed potatoes, peanuts and pomegranate seeds, set inside two halves of a bun and served with
some spicy chutney. This is the main dish when it comes to street food and is sold on street corners as well
as hotels and fast food joints. Traditional Pune food also includes Misal Pav, a variation of the Pav Bhaji and
Mastani, a thick dried fruit milkshake, named after Mastani, the wife of Baji Rao, a Peshwa during the
17thcentury.
Pune might well have been known as Mumbai’s country cousin, but it has stayed true to its style and offers
a great mix of city comfort as well as small town joie de vivre. You truly have to be blessed to visit this city of
virtue.
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